◙ noun 1. a shallow trough fixed beneath the edge of a roof for carrying off rainwater • 排雨槽，雨水槽，檐槽 a channel at the side of a street for carrying off rainwater • （道路的）排水沟，街沟，明沟 (the gutter)used to refer to a poor or squalid background or environment • 贫贱的出身；贫穷（或肮脏）的环境 »only moneyed privilege had kept him out of the gutter. 只是有钱人的特权才使他摆脱了贫贱的出身。 (technical)a groove or channel for flowing liquid • [技] 沟，槽 the blank space between facing pages of a book or between adjacent columns of type or stamps in a sheet • （书）左右两页中间的空白，订口；相邻两栏字之间的空白；（一版邮票上）邮票之间的空隙 ◙ verb 1. [no obj.] (of a candle or flame) flicker and burn unsteadily • （蜡烛，火焰）摇曳不定，忽明忽暗 »the candles had almost guttered out. 烛火摇曳不定，几乎要熄灭了。 2. [with obj.] (archaic)channel or furrow with something such as streams or tears • [古] 因水流（或泪水等）在…上形成的沟（或痕迹） »my cheeks are guttered with tears. 我的面庞满是泪痕。 [no obj.] (gutter down)stream down • 流，淌 »the raindrops gutter down her visage. 雨滴从她脸上淌下。
【语源】
1. Middle English: from Old French gotiere, from Latin gutta 'a drop'; the verb dates from late Middle English, originally meaning 'cut grooves in' and later (early 18th cent.) used of a candle which melts rapidly because it has become channelled on one side